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Van Buren Independent School District

490 S Paw Paw St
Lawrence, MI 49064-9328
9/
10
Top 20%

Top Rankings

Van Buren Independent School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Michigan for:

Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Student Attention
Lowest student-teacher ratio (Top 1%)
For the 2025-26 school year, there are 4 public high schools serving 149 students in Van Buren Independent School District. This district's average high testing ranking is 8/10, which is in the top 30% of public high schools in Michigan.
Public High Schools in Van Buren Independent School District have an average math proficiency score of 39% (versus the Michigan public high school average of 30%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 48% statewide average).
Public High School in Van Buren Independent School District have a Graduation Rate of 50%, which is less than the Michigan average of 82%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Bert Goens Learning Center, with <50% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in Michigan or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 33% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Michigan public high school average of 36% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (MI)
# Schools
4 Schools
1,341 Schools
# Students
149 Students
534,562 Students
# Teachers
73 Teachers
30,578 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
4:1
4:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Van Buren Independent School District, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 845 school districts in Michigan (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 20% has decreased from 50% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (MI)
#125 out of 862 school districts
(Top 20%)
50%
35%
50-59%
45%
40-59%
38%
(21-22)
≤20%
81%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.52
0.55
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
16%
9%
% Black
9%
17%
% White
67%
64%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $387,973 is higher than the state median of $18,512. The school district revenue/student has grown by 19% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $372,034 is higher than the state median of $17,694. The school district spending/student has grown by 19% over four school years.
This School District
This State (MI)
Total Revenue
$58 MM
$25,476 MM
Spending
$55 MM
$24,351 MM
Revenue / Student
$387,973
$18,512
Spending / Student
$372,034
$17,694

Best Van Buren Independent School District Public High Schools (2025-26)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Bert Goens Learning Center
Special Education School
(Math: 40-59% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
701 S Paw Paw St
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 539-5032
Gr: PK-12 | 72 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #22.
Communitybased Transition Center
Special Education School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
811 Hazen St
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 415-0270
Gr: 10-12 | 45 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #33.
Maple Creek Education Center
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
30 S Walnut St
Bangor, MI 49013
(269) 427-7961
Gr: K-12 | 32 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: n/an/a
Van Buren Technical
Vocational School
250 South St
Lawrence, MI 49064
(269) 674-8091
Gr: 11-12

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Quick Facts (2025-26)

  • District size: 4 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 149 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 4:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 33%
  • : ≤20% (Btm 50% in MI)
  • : Top 20%
  • : 50% (Top 20%)
  • : 50-59% (Top 20%)
  • : 40-59% (Top 30%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MI Dept. of Education

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